Prosperity Cabinet Member – Minutes – 6 November 2019
3 WINTERINGHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – DESIGNATION OF NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA – The Director: Business Development submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the outcome of the six week consultation into Winteringham Parish Council’s application to have their area formally designated for the purpose of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan, and seeking approval for the designation and its publication.
The Localism Act 2011 introduced new opportunities for local communities to get involved in planning their areas by preparing neighbourhood plans, neighbourhood development orders, and community right to build orders. The Act and associated neighbourhood planning regulations gave town/parish councils and neighbourhood forums powers to shape and encourage the delivery of new development.
The local planning authority was under a duty to support and obliged by law to help people draw up their neighbourhood plans. The council had proactively assisted Winteringham Parish Council and members of the local community to decide if they wished to pursue the development of a neighbourhood plan.
Before town/parish councils or neighbourhood forums could begin the work of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan they must apply to have the area they wish the plan to cover to be formally designated.
The council was responsible for receiving and determining applications for the designation of a neighbourhood area. The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 prescribed time limits for the determination of a neighbourhood area application. They required the council to advertise the application for a consultation period of not less than six weeks. All representations received must then be considered and a recommendation made to either designate or to not designate the neighbourhood area.
Winteringham Parish Council wished to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan and submitted an application on 23 May 2019 to have its area formally designated for this purpose. The application was published and publicised for the required six-week period to allow comments to be made. The six-week period ran until 20 September 2019. The report gave details of responses received.
Resolved – (a) That the report be noted, and (b) that Option 1, to formally designate the Winteringham Neighbourhood Area and publicise the designation, be approved.